International Law
This course will introduce the field of international law.
Students will learn about the legal principles and institutions that regulate the conduct of international actors, and explore contemporary issues such as war, terrorism, migration and human rights from a legal perspective.
Key information
| Subject | Law |
| Course teacher | Dr Mohamad Janaby |
| Credit level | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
| Credits | 20 SCQF (Find out more about studying for credit here) |
| Eligibility |
Our credit-bearing courses are only available to applicants aged 18 years or over. Applicants should have at least 1 year of undergraduate study experience. |
| Language requirements |
Applicants should meet the minimum English language requirements in order to fully benefit from, and engage with, Summer School courses. Your English language ability must be equivalent to, or above, 6.5 IELTS overall with 5.5 in each component. |
| Device requirements | Course materials will be delivered via the University of Edinburgh's Virtual Learning Environment. To access these materials, you will require a suitable device, such as a laptop or tablet. |
| Teaching location | Holyrood Campus |
| Dates | 01 July - 25 July 2024 |
| Length | 4 weeks |
| Contact hours | 57 |
| Course fee |
£3795 |
| Application deadline | 20 May 2024 (17:00 - BST) |
Dr Mohamad Janaby is a Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Open Learning. He holds a PhD in International Law from the University of Aberdeen. His doctoral research focused on the legal regime applicable to private military/ security company personnel in armed conflicts. He has taught courses on various law topics, including International Law, International Security and Peace, Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law and International Organisations. Dr Janaby has held visiting positions at Glasgow, Dundee, and Strathclyde Universities.
This course provides students with an introductory overview of international law as an academic discipline. The focus will be on public international law, which regulates relations between various actors including states and international organisations. Students will learn about essential concepts such as the nature of international law, its sources, the law of treaties, its relationship with national laws, and its subjects.
In addition, the course will critically assess the effectiveness of international law and offer legal reflections on issues such as the role of international institutions (particularly the United Nations) and the use of force in international relations. By the end of the course, students should have developed a good understanding of the fundamentals of public international law and be familiar with basic international legal concepts.
The course is divided into four parts. The first part will provide students with foundational knowledge of the main concepts of public international law, including its definition, its nature, the relevant sources, who is subject to it, and its relationship with domestic laws. The second part will focus on the role of international institutions, including the UN system and its effectiveness in countering challenges of public international law. Students will reflect on the involvement of the UN in particular case studies. In the third part, students will learn about the general legal framework of the use of force. The use of force will be taught in the context of jus ad bellum and jus in bello. Students will be encouraged to offer independent thought on recent select examples of the use of force. The fourth part will provide students with an overview of other areas of international law, such as the law of the sea, technology, international environmental law, and international criminal law.
The course will be taught through a combination of lectures, class discussions, group work and practical exercises. Lectures will introduce key concepts and theories, and the tutorials will provide an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding through discussion and questions. Students will also be guided to use their reasoning skills to apply international legal rules to facts provided in practical scenarios. In addition, the course will include student-led, group-based presentations on contemporary issues in international law.
Week 1 - Week 3
- Monday - Friday (10:00-13:00)
Week 4
- Monday - Thursday (10:00-13:00)
The course will be assessed through a 2500-word essay. In preparation of the essay, students will be encouraged to submit an essay plan of up to 750 words on which feedback will be provided.
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify and define the main concepts of international law including its nature, sources and subjects, statehood, as well as its relationship with national law.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the international legal regime governing the use of force.
- Analyse current issues, such as examples of the use of force, from a legal perspective.
- Critically assess the effectiveness of international rules and institutions, including the United Nations.
- Show awareness of selected areas of international law, such as the law of the sea, environmental law, and international criminal law.
The course fee does not include accommodation during your study. Please see our Accommodation section for more information.
To ensure your experience at the University of Edinburgh's Summer School is memorable, we encourage students to embrace the city and its culture and take part in the variety of social activities available.
Ready to apply?
For full details including information on fees, visas and a link to the application form please visit our 'Apply Now' page.
International Law
Edinburgh